23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

My God,

Let me seek the water

that is brings me life!

I want to reach the stream

that never runs dry!

You put a thirst in me

that only you can quench!

Come, bring healing to my weary soul

and fill until I overflow!

Amen

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 35:4-7a

• Share an example of a personal experience when you felt God came to rescue you. What was the situation?  How are you assured it was God who came?
• Is there anything that causes you fear? Anything that God could not rescue you from?
• How does goodness, beauty and healing come from something evil, ugly and broken? Can you give an example?

 James 2:1-5

• How does your appearance change the reaction you get from others? Is this important?  Why or why not?  Is it a good representation of you or what you want others to believe you are?
• What are the benefits of being poor? What are the benefits of being rich?  How do they differ?

 Mark 7:31-37

• What do you see that astonishes you? Is it something God has created or man has created?
• What would you have felt if you saw Jesus walking away from the crowd? How does his action cause you to feel?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• When you are without one sense, how do your other senses work to “make up” for the missing sense?
• What is something you have seen or want to see that you would regret seeing if you were to become blind today?
• What is something you would miss hearing if you were to lose your sense of hearing today?
• If singing is praying twice, and God calls us to proclaim the WORD, would your prayers be less potent if you became mute?
• Can you still share God’s overwhelming love for others if you were unable to see, speak or hear? Share examples.
• How does water bring life and healing to those in the world?
• Do you know when God’s healing is coming or present?
• What exiles do you or have you suffered? Be specific.
• What makes a person rich or poor? Is it only economic?
• What are the things which you value? What value do you place on the things that don’t have a price tag?  Can you?
• Do you have favorites? Favorite stores?  Favorite restaurants?  Favorite place to stop while on a road trip?  This show partiality.  How does this affect others who are in the same business?  What do your actions change in the big picture?
• How do you relate to the cries for help from those in need?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Praise you Lord, all my days!

 ALL:  When I am weak and need strength…you rescue me;

Leader:  Praise you Lord, all my days!

ALL:  When I am oppressed and seek justice…you set me free;

Leader:  Praise you Lord, all my days!

 ALL:  When I am alone and need assurance…you send a friend;

Leader:  Praise you Lord, all my days!

ALL:  When I am guilty of sin and shame…you forgive me;

Leader:  Praise you Lord, all my days!

ALL:  When I am short on faith and hope…you fill me;

Leader:  Praise you Lord,

ALL:  all my days!!!

 

Challenge for the Week:  Imagine a day without clean water.  It is such a commodity in the world and many waste it.  It is difficult to understand this when we consider a human body is made up of 70% of it and 71% of the earth’s surface is covered in water.  However, the oceans hold 96.5% of all the earths’ water which means there is only 3.5% left to be considered fresh water and only a fraction of that is immediately drinkable.  These are not statistics, rather facts about how important water is in our lives.  Consider all of the things you use water for on a daily basis and spend time in prayer with words of gratitude that you have the privilege to have access to clean, drinkable water AND for the 35% of the world’s population who do not have access to a clean water source or improved sanitation.  One more thing to add to the list of “gratefuls” each day!